Stencil-tempering device



May 14, 1929. w. A. SAUL STENCIL TEMPERING DEVICE Filed Aug. 17 1925 l LII Patented May 14, 1929.

UNITED. STATES PATENTOFFICE.

WALDO A. SAUL, OI" LEXINGTON, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- IENTS, TO ELLIOTT ADDRESSING MACHINE COMPANY, OF CAMBRIDGE, MASSA- CHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 01' MASSACHUSETTS."

STENCIL-TEMPERING DEVICE.-

Application filed August 17, 1925. Serial No. 50,887.

This invention relates to stencils and moistening devices therefor.

A well known type of stencil, such as is used in addressing machines for the printing of addresses and the like, comprises a relatively stiff frame having a window therein, and a sheet of stencil paper secured to the frame and disposed in the window. The stencil paper is coated, on one side at least, with a thin film or layer of gelatine or'the like which is adapted to be cut through to the porous paper by type in forming the printing characters. Prior to cutting the stencil the gelatine film'isusually softened or tempered. This operation is usually performed by placing the stencil sheet in contact with amoistened surface, as a pad or a wick or the like and allowing the stencil sheet to remain in contact with such moistened surface for a short period, usually during the typing of a previously-tempered stencil.

It sometimes happens that the tempered stencil, when it is withdrawn from between the moistened surfaces, carries a surplus of water on its faces; and it is an object of this invention to provide a stencil tempering or moistening device with means to remove surplus moisture from the stencil.

A further object is to provide a stencil tempering device so arranged that the act of placing an un-tempered stencil in the device operates to effect the removal of surplus moisture from the stencil undergoing tempering'in the device.

r A further object is a blotting attachment for existing stencil tempering devices.

A further object is to improve the construction and operation of stencil tempering devices.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a stencil tempering device embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end view of Fig. 1 illustrating particularly the blotting device.

Fig. 4 is a transverse section along line 44 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional elevatio through a blotting roll.

Fig. 6 is a sectional view of a stencil which may be tempered in the device.

A stencil which may be tempered conveniently by the tempering device embodying this invention is illustrated in Fig. 6 and comprises a stiff frame 10 having a window 12 therein. A thin and flexible stencil sheet 14 is disposed within.'the window and cemented, on one side, to a ledge 16. The stencil sheet is coated on its front side with a thin layer or film 18 of gelatinc, the thickness of which is exaggerated in this figure. The gelatine coating is adapted to be cut through by type, as the type ofa typewriting machine, whereby to expose the porous paper body to the ink which is a plied, usually by a roll, on the coated sur ace of the stencil sheet during the printing operation. The gelatine coating of the stencil, ordinarily, is required to be softened or tempered, usually by water, prior to cutting the printing characters therein; and such tempering may be effected in a device embody ing the present lnvention.

The tempering device comprises a hollow receptacle 20 of rectangular form which is adapted to contain a supply of water. A U-shaped channel or stencil track 22 is disposed in the middle of the top face 24.0f the receptacle and partially below said top face, and extends longitudinally thereacross and is adapted to receive the bottom edge of the stencil frame and support it movably in upright position. The stencil track may be extended forwardly of the receptacle, as

at 26, and may have a flaring entrance 28,

wherebyto guide stencils into and for longitudinal movement along the track.

The moistening devices includes pads or wicks 30 of absorbent material which are disposed" on opposite sides of, and above, the stencil track and extend downwardly through slots in the top cover 24 into the interior of the receptacle, to become moistened by the water therein contained. Said wicks 30 are supported by frames having broad plates32 which extend longitudinally of the receptacle and-have a width and length approximating the corresponding dimensions of the stencil sheet. The upper edges of said plates are formed with lips 34-which are reflexed upon and into bind ing engagement with the upper ends of said wicks, whereby to hold the wicks to the frames. Said frames are provided with arms 36 at the ends of said plates 32, which arms depend over the sides of the receptacle I .horizontally outward.

thereof.

and similar arms of said frames are pivotally disposed on screws 38 and 40, which screws are threaded into the end-walls of the the opposite arms of which engage the arms of said frames. A dcpressible finger-member 48'is provided to move said frames apart against the action of said spring for the purpose of placing a stencil, or withdrawing it from position, between the plates 32 of said frame although, for the purposes of the present invention, the stencils are removed from the device by sliding them along the stencil track from one'to the When the stencils are removed from contact with the wet wicks some of them may have surplus moisture on the surface thereof and it is one of the objects of this invention to provide means to blot the stencil and remove such surplus moisture. Theblotting meansincludes a pair of absorbent rolls 50, composed mainly of absorbent material, as loosely compressed felting. Said rolls are disposed in line with and above the stencil track in position to engage the moistened surfaces of the stencils.

Said rolls have a suitable diameter and a width preferably at least equal to the width of the tempered portion of the stencil. Said rolls are rotatably supported by a bracket 52'which is attached removably to an end wall of the'receptacle and over the arms of said wick-frames by the screw-40; and the bracket is formed with inwardly-refiexed feet 54 which are disposed on opposite sides of and in horizontal line with said screw 40 and bear against the end wall, whereby to support the body of said bracket in spaced relation beyond the arms of the wick-frames. Said bracket is extended upwardly and laterally and is formed with two arms 56 each of which, in turn, is provided with a pair of vertically-spaced and outwardly-extended ears 58 which are arranged to support a pair of swinging, roll-support-- ing members. Sald swlnging members in-' clude pins 60 which freely pass vertically through aligned apertures in said ears and are journalled therein. Said pins are extended below said ears and suitable means, as rings 62, encircle the lower ends thereof to hold said pins in the aforesaid relation. Arms '64 are fixed to the upper ends of said pins, above said cars 58, and are extended Posts 66 are fixed to the outer ends of said arms and extend vertically upward thereabove; and said rolls 50 are journalled on said posts. Said posts are internally screw-threaded and pins 68are removably screw-threaded therein and extend above said posts and rolls.

Said pins are somewhat larger in diameter other end r than said rolls and serve to hold said rolls against undue axial movementon the posts. When said pins are removed the rolls can be withdrawn from position on the posts. Grooves 7 0 are formed in the upper ends of .said pins in which the ends of a tensile spring 72may be removably received; and

said spring serves to urge said'rolls into yielding rotatable engagementwith a stencil disposed therebetween. If desired, pins 74; may extend vertically downward below said arms 64 and approximately in line with said posts 66 and said spring 72 may be extended therebetween, for thesame purpose, whereby to provide a clear and unobstructed space above the bight of the rolls. The length of said pins 68, and 74, is such as to support said spring 72 out of thepath of stencil movement through the rolls.

In using the device above described, a stencil is placed in position between the wicks 30, as'indicated in the fullli-ne position of the stencil, Fig. 1, and maintained in such position 'untilthe stencil sheet is suitably tempered, which is but a fewseconds. The tempered stencil is then moved forwardly along the stencil track and into and in the-same direction out of the bite of the blotting rolls and said rolls thereby serve to absorb surplus moisture from the faces of the stencil sheet. The movement of the tempered stencil along the stencil track may be accomplishedwhen inserting a second stencil in position for tempering the new stencil which, by the horizontal movement thereof, displaces thetempered stencil and moves the tempered stencil through the rolls. Both rolls are hingedly-mountedon the supporting bracket 52, through the swinging members, and thereby bear on opposite sides of the stencil without bendig the stencil sidewise.

The rolls may be removed when necessary and surplus water squeezed out of them by hand.

I claim: 7

1. A stencil-tempering device comprising a stationary guide-way along which a moist stencil is adapted topass and a pair of op posed blotting rolls located on opposite sides of said guide-way in position to have the stencilpass therebetween and to be engaged by the moist opposite surfaces of the stenway, and resilient means holdingsaid rolls yieldingly in alignment wlth said guideway.

3. A stencil-tempering device comprising a pair of opposed tempering pads between which the stencil is received to be tempered, a pair of blotting rolls disposed adjacent to and with their bite approximately in line with said pads, and between which the tempered stencil is adapted to be passed, and yielding means to urge said rolls toward each other.

4. In a stencil-tempering device, drying means for the tempered stencil including a pair of blotting rolls, yielding means urging said rolls toward each other, and means to guide the tempered stencil into the bite of and into direct rolling contact with the blotting surfaces of said rolls.

5. In a stencil-tempering device, drying means for the tempered stencil including a support, a pair of blotting rolls adapted directly to engage the tempered stencil between them and each having a hinged-com nection with said support, and yielding means urging said rolls toward each other.

6. In a stencil-tempering device, drying means for the tempered stencil including a support, a pair of blotting rolls each having a hingedconnection with said support, yielding means urging said rolls toward each other, and means to guide the tempered stencil into the bite of said rolls.

7. In a stencil-tempering device, drying means for the tempered stencil, a support, a pair of blotting rolls each having a hinged-connection with said support, and

yielding means urging said rolls toward each other including a tensile spring extended between the hinged-connections of said rolls beyond the path of stencil-movement between said rolls.

8. In a stencil-tempering device, drying means for the tempered stencil including a support, a pair of swinging members hinged to said support, a blotting roll journalled on each swinging member, and yielding means to urge said rolls and swinging members toward each other. i

9. In a stencil-tempering device, drying means for the tempered stencil including a support, a pair of swinging members hinged to said support, a blotting roll journalled on each swinging member, yielding means to urge said rolls toward each other, and means to guide a stencil into the bite of said rolls.

10. In a stencil-tempering device, drying means for the tempered stencil including a support, a pair of swinging members hinged to said support, a blotting roll ournalled on each swinging member, yielding means to urge said rolls toward each other, including a tensile spring extended between said swinging members beyond the path of movement of the stencil, and means to guide the stencil into the bite of said rolls.

11. In a stencil-tempering device, dry-' ing means for the tempered stencil including a support, a pair of swinging members hinged to said support, a blotting roll journalled on each swinging member, means removably securing said rolls to said swinging members, means to urge said rolls toward each other, and means to guide the stencil into the bite of said rolls.

12. A stencil-tempering device including a support, a bracket mounted on a side wall of the support, a pair of blotting rolls carried by said bracket above the top of said support, means to urge said rolls toward each other, and a stencil track carried by'the top of said support laterally of and mainly beneath said rolls.

13. A stencil-tempering device including the combination of a bracket, a pair of swinging members journalled in said bracket, a pair of blotting rolls journalled on said swinging members, a tensile spring extended between and connected removably with said swinging members above said rolls, whereby to urge said rollers toward each other, and a stencil track disposed in position to guide stencils into the bite of said rolls.

14. A drying attachment for a stenciltempering device comprising a bracket through which an attaching screw is adapted to be passed, and having rearwardly extended feet disposed on opposite sides of the attaching screw, upwardly extended arms, swinging members journalled in said arms, and rollers journalled on said swinging members.

15. A drying attachment for a stenciltempering device comprising a bracket through which an attaching-screw is adapted to be passed, and having rearwardly-extended feet disposed on opposite sides of the attaching screw, upwardly-extended arms, swinging members journalled in said arms, rollers journalled on said swinging members, and a tensile spring connected between said swinging members beyond said rolls.

1 6'. A drying attachment for a stenciltempering device comprising a bracket through which an attaching-screw is adapted to be passed, and having rearwardly extended feet disposed on opposite sides of the attaching screw, upwardly extended arms, swinging members journalled in said arms, and rollers journalled on said swinging members, said swinging members having spring-supports beyond said rolls.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

WALDO A. SAUL. 

